Spindle bearing for machine tools



Nov. 9, 1948. A.B1ECHLER I 2,453,182

SPINDLE BEARING FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed NOV. 11, 1945 lzz/velv-bor Y flwy- Patented Nov. 9, 1948 SPINDLE BEARING FOR MACHINE TOOLS Andr Bechler, Moutier, Canton of Berne, Switzerland Application November 11, 1943, Serial No. 509,908 In Switzerland February 25, 1942 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a spindle bearing for machine tools.

The object of the invention is to mount the spindle on the bearing in such a way that, even if no play whatever can be ascertained when the machine is in repose, inaccuracies resulting from the fabrication and being perceived during working can be eliminated. When finishing a work piece it even happens sometimes that inaccuracies are caused by vibrations of the tool spindle. These vibrations are due to an inaccurate support of the spindle on the bearing, a defect unperceivable in repose of the machine. The spin dle bearing of this invention overcomes these inconveniences. It has a stationary bearing ring, a member rotating with the spindle, and a thrust member also rotating with the spindle and abutting at its end faces the rotating member and the stationary bearing ring, at least one of the surfaces of contact between the thrust member and the rotating member being of part spherical form, characterised in that the thrust member is divided into two portions, the line of division occurring between the point of connection of the thrust member with the spindle and the end face contacting the rotating member.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of examples, different embodiments of the spindle b rin according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side View of the improved spindle bearing partly in section, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrating certain frictional effects.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the frame I of the machine comprises a bore in which a cylindrically hollowed bearing 2 is placed, having on the extremity turned towards the free end of the spindle 3 a hollow extension 4 with a chamber 5, a shoulder 6 and a threaded part I. The latter is engaged by a nut 8 pressing a ring 9 against the shoulder 6; this ring 9, with an inner diameter greater than that of the spindle, being, therefore, rigidly fixed to the bearing. A sleeve I is taken along by the spindle 3; for this purpose it is connected with this spindle by a key 20 and has no play both with regard to the spindle and to the bearing 2. On the end turned towards the ring 9 this sleeve I0 has a spherical surface II cooperating with an identical surface cut on a loose ring I20 having a flat surface engaging a washer I2 fixed to the spindle 3 in the direction of rotation by means of a key I3; the bores of the disc I2 and ring I20 are greater than the diameter of the spindle 3; washer I2 bears by a flat face against the ring 9. A similar 2 I washer I4 and loose ring I40 is placed on the other side of the ring 9, the spherical surface of the ring I40 cooperates with a corresponding surface of a nut I5 engaging threads of the free end of the spindle, nut I5 being secured by a lock-nut I6.

The device can be easily mounted by successively introducing sleeve I0, loose ring I 20, washer I2, ring 9, nut 83, washer I4, ring I40, nut I5, and the exertion of a traction on the spindle 3, in order to approach the shoulder I! to the ring 9, causes the washers I2 and M to bear against the ring 9 with their fiat surfaces in order to take exactly the position given to the ring 9 by the shoulder 6.

As shown in Fig. 2 the friction surface between a single member I2 and the ring [6a is at a distance (a) from the key connection I3 of the member I2 with the spindle, the friction R produces a turning moment Ra upon the member I2, as is represented in Fig. 2. This moment tends to cant the member I2 into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, bringing about an irregular pressure between the Washer I2 and the ring IBa. This canting may be great enough to cause a very rapid and irregular wear.

According to the invention this defect is overcome by a division of the member I2 into two parts. As shown in Fig. 1 instead of a single member there is employed a washer I2 and a loose ring I20. and a washer Id and a loose ring I40 respectively. The line of division occurs between the keys I3 and the end faces abutting the members I0, I5 respectively taken along by the spindle, and. is perpendicular to the spindle axis.

'-Thus the loose rings I20 and I40 are rotated only by frictional contact with the washers I2, I4 and should these washers I2, M cant into the position shown in Fig. 2, the loose rings I20, I40 can move radially to adjust themselves to the members I0, I5. In the same manner the loose rings and washers compensate for any minor irgegularities in the mounting of the bearing ring What I claim is:

1. In a bearing, a bearing body, a spindle, members fixed to said spindle to rotate with the latter, a stationary bearing ring fixed between said members to said bearing body, washers between said stationary bearing ring and said members, keys for slidably and non-rotatably connecting said washers to said spindle, one end face of each of said washers making contact with said stationary bearing ring, loose rings between and in contact with said washers and said members, at least one of the surfaces of contact between each of said loose rings and said members being spherical.

2. In a bearing, a bearing body, a spindle, members fixed to said spindle to rotate with the latter, a stationary bearing ring with flat end faces, fixed between said members to said bearing body, washers with fiat end faces substantially perpendicularrtozthe. axis of: the spindle; arranged between said stationary bearing ring-and said members, keys for slidably and non-rotatably connecting said washers to said spindle, one end-' face of each of said washers makingcontactwith said stationary bearing ring, loose ringsbetween and in contact with said washers andts'aid mem bers, the end faces of said loose rings, making contact with said washers, .beingsfiat, ,while at least one of the surfaces of contact between each of said loose rings and said members is spherical.

3. In a bearing according to claim 2, one of 4 said members being a sleeve slidably and nonrotatably connected to said spindle, the other of said members being a nut coaxially screwed to said spindle.

ANDRE BECHLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following ref erenees are rof lrecord rin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,724,902 Bentley Aug. 20, 1929 1,735,881 Seastedt Nov. 19, 1929 2,325,404 Irons July 27, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 46,982 Sweden Sept. 4, 1918 171,765

Great Britain Nov. 21, 1921 

